Cute book about the rainforest is published

It is fun to see the book I illustrated titled 'An Unexpected Encounter' published by Crees. Crees is a non-profit organization that runs important conservation and sustainable community development initiatives in the Manu Biosphere Reserve. Their aim is to create a sustainable future for the Amazon rainforest through conservation research and community education.

The book follows the character of ABUN as she discovers many wonderful creatures in the rainforest and even encounters a new species of frog!

Here's a video of one of the illustrations in progress:

A post shared by Pet portrait artist (@studiokaufmann) on Aug 21, 2017 at 5:58am PDT

You can find more info about the book over at the Crees facebook page. Some of the book's proceeds will go to conservation of the rainforest.

Here are more illustrations from the book. Get in touch if you would like to commission illustrations for your book.

Linking up to Paint Party Friday and Brilliant Blog Posts.

Does Coffee Improve Memory?

Hello Peeps!

I have been busy painting this adorable little bunny which will be available printed on some products over at Bohemian Coffee Club in a few weeks.

A post shared by Pet portraits from your photos (@studiokaufmann) on Apr 18, 2017 at 4:10pm PDT

I met a woman at the gym today who I have known on and off for sixteen years. That was at 9.30. We talked a bit about how she was determined to lose 15 lb pounds and I wished her the best of luck. Then I went swimming. I went up and down for an hour and tried to remember what this woman was called.

It was on the tip of my tongue. I knew her name started with N or maybe M. Then there was a bit of drama I think a woman fainted or twisted her leg and was lying at the side of the pool. Then I trod water while I watched the paramedics come and take this woman to hospital in the ambulance.

Then I swam a bit more and tried to remember my friend's name. Nada. Nothing.

Then I went home and ate some friend mushrooms.

It is now 1.20 and I have just remembered this woman's name! It does start with N. Nicola. I think it was the grease in the friend mushrooms that kick started the old grey matter. I am 46. Honestly I didn't think my brain was going to pack up this early in the game. I am wondering what will exercise my brain?

I have heard coffee improves your memory. Is that true? I must say I do love the stuff and my memory is shot to pieces so who knows? I also did a coffee art piece called COFFEE SPLASH which describes my feelings about the invigorating power of Java.

You can buy prints of COFFEE SPLASH over at CURIOOS.

Linking up to Paint Party Friday, Sunday Sketches and Brilliant Blog Posts.

Spring Freebie!

I am part of an amazing group of illustrators from the Facebook group Erfolgreich.Illustrator. Nearly 120 of us submitted designs to the theme of spring which were made into card format which is now available as a freebie to download. It is a matching game that is so much fun! Little kids will also find the designs super cute.

My guinea pig cards are on page 23 beside some amorous ladybugs: DOWNLOAD HERE

Linking up to Paint Party Friday, Sunday Sketches and Brilliant Blog Posts.

Gone to the dogs

Hi guys!

I've had a busy week of doing dawg portraits. Here's an adorable great dane I did.....first I messed around with masking fluid. Don't you just love pulling up masking fluid? It's so therapeutic!

A post shared by Pet portraits from your photos (@studiokaufmann) on Mar 21, 2017 at 2:19pm PDT

This is another spotted dane I did in watercolor and acrylic inks.

Linking up to Paint Party Friday, Sunday Sketches and Brilliant Blog Posts.

Guinea Pig on his Holibobs

It's been a busy week rustling up pet portrait commissions including this handsome little corgi.

If you're wondering where guinea pig has gone he is now a sunburnt sausage in ‪#‎SoCal
‬You can vote for him at Bored Panda. I know he'd appreciate it immensely: http://www.boredpanda.com/guinea-pig-around-the-world/

The guinea pig series is also available as greetings cards.

Guinea Pig in Venice: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21426156-guinea-pig-in-venice?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in Paris: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21367406-a-guinea-pig-in-paris?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in London: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21390912-guinea-pig-in-london?p=greeting-card

Guinea Pig in Southern California: http://www.redbubble.com/people/studiokaufmann/works/21694864-guinea-pig-in-southern-california?p=greeting-card

Where are you planning to go on your holibobs? I am not going anywhere or rather we are moving out the house because we are having renovations but we are not leaving the country. My daughter is going on an exchange to Germany in the summer which will be fun for her. I will be roasting like guinea pig in the boiling hot summers of Baltimore.

Linking to Brilliant Blog Posts and Paint Party Friday.



childrens paintings for sale

Guinea Pig in the Tulips

Guinea Pig in the Tulips, watercolor

My guinea pig is whizzing around the world. Today I found him in a tulip field in the Netherlands chatting to a caterpillar. I would love to know what they are having a chinwag about.

Where do you think he will end up next???

If you could vote for him over at Bored Panda you would really make my day:

In other news we are having our roof raised to create more room. Well basically they take it off and switch the power off for three weeks so we have to move out. It will be in the summer mercifully so at least I don't have to worry about getting the kids to school! I wonder where we will go? All I know is .....camping is not an option! I am not that type to want to 'get in touch with nature'....I just get in touch with poison ivy and get a nasty rash.

I know someone who has a weekend house we might be able to use. The kids will probably think of it as an adventure. But I have realized that I am practically geriatric when on hearing we had to temporarily move I took a deep sigh knowing I'd have to organize all the clothes and crap being stuffed into suitcases.

I remember there was a time I loved adventure. I remember being on holiday in Vienna and my mother when I was a youngun and we turned up at the airport a day late so we'd missed our plane. My mother was pissed off but I was like....how exciting let's go back to home to London by train! I got a real kick out of it.

Now I know how she feels! Do you like routine and predictability or do you like it when life makes you shake things up now and again?

Basically are you an adventurer or stay at home guinea pig?


Linking to Brilliant Blog Posts and Paint Party Friday.




flower paintings for sale

Zing into Spring

We have gone from freezing cold to full on boiling hot spring-a-ding-a-ling. Get the cocktails on ice, throw a shrimp on the barbie.....ooh it does feel rather electrifying to be walking around in shorts and once more having to care about whether or not one's legs resemble a forest before baring all.

The longer I live in America the brighter my colors become. I wonder if I would ever have been able to paint anything as cheery and bright as 'Chipmunk and Friend' in rainy old England? Do you find your style of painting changes if you are living in a damp/depressing or hot/tropical climate?
 

Chipmunk and Friends

The only downside to spring is the sun highlights the huge tribes of dust bunnies that have accumulated under the bed and shines a rather unwelcome light onto the smeary, dirty surfaces that I quite happily ignore in winter. But there is something about spring that makes even a borderline slob like me reach for the bleach bucket and roll up their sleeves..... and having a good old scrub before lying down satisfied with a big mug of tea and a stack of chocolate digestives.

Are you feeling the zing of spring yet?

That reminds me...when I come back in my next life I want to be a sloth. What wonderful creatures. I painted one the other day. I will chant this to myself every Monday:

Prints, cushions, mugs of this design are available at Society6 and Etsy. Linking up with Brilliant Blog Posts and Paint Party Friday